MYSTERY ILLINOIS STATE FAIR CONCERT REVEALED

Springfield, IL -Thanks to Central Illinois Toyota Dealers, Montgomery Gentry will light up the Illinois Lottery Grandstand following the Twilight Parade August 8.

Drumming up interest for the concert to be held on opening night, state fair officials ran a contest from June 24th-July 5th on the Illinois State Fair Facebook page dropping daily clues allowing participants to guess the artist. Correct entries were put into a drawing for a pair of backstage passes, along with a free parking pass and two admission tickets to Thursday night of the fair. Ten lucky winners were announced July 8th on the Illinois State Fair Facebook page and on Midwest Family Broadcasting radio stations.

On the heels of their latest seven-song EP, Outskirts, released June 14, Montgomery Gentry is back on the country music scene with the last project Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry worked on before Gentry's tragic death in September 2017. In an interview with Billboard magazine, Eddie Montgomery credited fans for helping him cope with the loss of Troy Gentry, "We don't call them fans - we call them friends."

With massive support, Montgomery Gentry band members discussed their musical fate and opted to continue touring in Gentry's honor splitting his vocal duties rather than replacing him because, "You can't replace T-Roy. You never could, no matter who you put in there," Montgomery said.

"We are thrilled to work with Central Illinois Toyota Dealers to bring Montgomery Gentry to opening night of the Illinois State Fair," said Kevin Gordon, Illinois State Fair Manager.

"With a star-studded grandstand, contests and daily prize packages, this year's ten-day extravaganza of Illinois agriculture is sure to be one to remember!"